Hardscaping, softscaping, landscaping — what on earth are all these different scapings? For homeowners who just want their yards to look nice, the options can feel overwhelming.
However, understanding what each term defines and how they work together is crucial for planning a beautiful yard. Of course, you can always hire a landscaping expert. But wouldn’t it be nice to understand a little about what they’re talking about?
Let’s look at each of them and define the types of landscaping here.
What is Hardscaping?
Hardscaping is pretty much all the stuff made of hard materials that you might put in your yard. For example, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, structures like gazebos or porches, etc.
Another significant part of hardscaping is figuring out the drainage. Water pooling in your yard will result in a muddy, boggy plot of land that won’t make an enjoyable place to hang out. Structures, retaining walls, creating slopes in the ground, and other methods are used to ensure water can drain as it should.
Conversely, sprinkler systems or other types of irrigation systems are also considered part of hardscaping.
Typically hardscaping elements are the first that are installed when landscaping a yard. Hardscaping can be thought of as the skeleton of a yard. Once you have these structures in place, you can fill in around them with softscaping elements.
What is Softscaping?
So let’s talk about what is softscaping. The elements in softscaping aren’t necessarily soft, which can make it a little confusing.
However, softscaping elements are basically anything that fills in and adds decoration to the overall landscaping. So trees, bushes, and plants are all softscaping elements. Softscaping is where your creativity shines.
Hardscaping elements are generally pretty firmly established. However, softscaping elements can be changed fairly easily by the homeowner. For example, annual flowers or vegetable plants that grow for a season and are done.
Sometimes, hardscaping and softscaping elements can be combined. For example, a row of concrete planters is part of hardscaping but the shrubs you plant in them are softscaping elements.
What is Landscaping?
So what is landscaping? This term refers to all of it. Landscaping is simply the idea of beautifying a yard with manmade elements, ornamental features, or trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Hardscaping and softscaping are both elements of landscaping. They work together to create the final look.
Hard Landscaping in Toronto
Looking for help with hard or soft landscaping in Toronto? Don’t waste your time Googling “hard landscaping near me” — you’ve already found us! The experts at Terrastone Landscaping can help you perfectly landscape your yard with the right mix of hard and soft landscaping elements.
We’ve been at this for a while so rest assured that all our work is compliant with the City of Toronto Backyard Landscaping Bylaws. You can just sit back and enjoy your amazing new yard.
Ready to transform your backyard into a comfortable oasis? Reach out to Terrastone Landscaping and get started today!
